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Harris, Patterson Launch Summer Reading Program for Rochester Youth

A new summer reading initiative aimed at boosting literacy and creating youth employment launched this week in Rochester, thanks to a partnership between City Council leaders and the Rochester City School District (RCSD).


Rochester City Council members LaShay Harris and Michael Patterson
Rochester City Council members LaShay Harris and Michael Patterson

City Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris and Councilmember Michael A. Patterson unveiled the Read Alliance program on July 7, offering a phonics-based curriculum to 90 students entering grades one through three. The program also employs 40 older students as paid tutors, combining academic support with meaningful job opportunities.


“This program will bring early literacy opportunities to our city’s youngest students throughout the summer,” Harris said. “When I released the City Council Childhood Poverty Report earlier this year, the top solution recommended by parents and community members was an increase in extracurricular opportunities for our youth.”


Hosted at RCSD School No. 16 and School No. 22, the program runs through August 14 and is designed to prevent learning loss over the summer months. It pairs young readers with trained peer mentors in a supportive learning environment.


“Beyond our work to ensure our city’s students maintain strong reading levels throughout their early education, this program provides incredible summer employment opportunities for older youth,” Patterson said. “We are providing opportunities across the board for students from kindergarten to high school.”


The initiative is administered locally by Primetime585 and modeled after the Read Alliance program, a peer-to-peer literacy model that has operated in New York City for over 25 years. Funding for the pilot was secured by Harris and Patterson as part of their push for neighborhood-based youth programs.


City Council President Miguel A. Meléndez emphasized the importance of bridging the gap in summer enrichment between city and suburban youth.


“Throughout Monroe County, our students’ suburban counterparts are offered countless opportunities for summer learning, enrichment and recreation,” Meléndez said. “With the Read Alliance program, we are moving closer to equitable access to opportunity for all students within the City of Rochester.”


The program is a collaborative effort between the City Council and the RCSD, with key support from RCSD Board President Camille Simmons. The Council provided funding while RCSD is contributing facilities, teachers, and paraprofessionals to bring the program to life.

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